WHAT’S
THE CHALLENGE?

“While many existing community development projects have identified the
need to engage with new communities in their areas, and want to work on interculturalism
and anti-racism, not many have actually done so,” says Alice Binchy of Tallaght
Intercultural Action.

“Most projects find it difficult to engage and make contact with ethnic
minority groups in their area in a realistic and meaningful way for lack of financial
support, resources and knowledge,” concluded reporters at last year’s
EARS seminar.

Projects feel:
- They don’t know what to do,
- Their main priority is the long-term residents of their community,
- That the work is specialised and someone else should do it.
- That they don’t have the staff or the funds to do this work.

WHY ARE ‘NEW
COMMUNITIES’ A PRIORITY?

One word – racism. One catchphrase - Interculturalism – which is
essentially about interaction, understanding and respect.

“We all have a role to play - integration is not just something done by
government policy - we as members of local communities and organisations have
a vital part to play,” says Carina Fitzgerald, the NCCRI’s Community
Development Support Officer.

NCRRI ASSISTS LOCAL GROUPS

The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) was
ten years old in 2008. It provides an independent expert voice on racism.

As of November, 2008, the NCCRI runs a Community Development Support Unit which
freely gives assistance and technical support to community groups working on integration
and interculturalism. It aims to “bring added value to the supports provided
by other organisations” and to “highlight the collective issues and
needs of ethnic minority groups to relevant government bodies, policy-makers and
service providers at all levels.”

Community groups can contact the NCCRI’s Carina Fitzgerald on: 01-8588002.

Note: The Government budget announced in October 2008 included a cut of €500,000
in State funding to the NCCRI and some of the agency’s functions were to
be absorbed by the office of Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan. The agency
will continue to benefit from EU funding, though services will undoubtedly be
reduced after the cut in State funding.

TAP FOR INFORMATION:

The following organisations and methods will yield a lot of useful information,
whatever your query:
• Central Statistics Office website: www.cso.ie
• Reception and Integration Agency: www.ria.gov.ie
• Citizens Information Centres: www.citizensinformation.ie
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: www.entemp.ie
• The Equality Authority: www.equality.ie
• Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre: www.nascireland.org
• Cairde, which tackles health inequalities among ethnic minority communities:
www.cairde.ie
• Immigrant newspaper: www.metroeireann.com
• Local health centres.
• Word of mouth – for example, from direct provision hostels.
• Schools and local authorities.
• Find out who is living in the local area. Collect data. For example,
volunteers from ethnic minorities helped Tuam Resource Centre CDP to survey
the town and the project launched a book on the diverse make-up of the Tuam’s
population.

THINGS TO DO!

Wondering what kind of event to organise. The following are recommended by
those with experience, though try not to run a one-off tokenistic event. Plan
for a follow-up:

Welcome Events.

International Sports Day.

Coffee mornings-meet and greet.

Organise social evenings where people from new and existing communities could
meet in a social context and share their culture, food, stories and music.

Challenge stereotypes and misinformation by organising awareness raising events.
Some tips: (a) Use existing forums/groups as a medium to speak to the community.
(b) Invite a person from a minority ethnic group to speak. (c) Organise diversity
training for voluntary groups, service providers, sports clubs.

Tips for involving immigrants in community events

1) Organise events at a suitable time, e.g. evenings and weekends for migrant
workers. Sunday is often the most commonly free day, though some minority ethnic
groups have Sunday services.
2) Acknowledge the differences in the situation and needs of both women and
men and the fact that migrant workers are not a homogenous group.
3) Address barriers to participation, e.g. poor public transport and lack of
childcare.
4) Do not arrange social events in pubs.
5) In the initial stage it may not be necessary to pay full commercial rates
for translation of leaflets to advertise events. Ask local leaders if they can
help in translating flyers that simply say, e.g.,‘A welcome night, an
information session on migrant workers’ rights’.
6) Post leaflets and flyers where people meet or go, e.g. the Post Office, shop
windows, internet café, local library, local churches.
7) If the majority of migrant workers in the town/area speak one particular
language, e.g. Polish, try to have some translation. It is important to have
some idea of the languages spoken by migrant workers in the area. For non-EEA
migrant workers it is possible to begin a rough profile of nationality by checking
the DETE website www.entemp.ie
8) Get sufficient copies of the free leaflets on migrant workers’ rights.
These are available in 12 languages from the National Employment Rights Authority.
Check titles on http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/aboutnera/publicationsdownloads/
9) Invite local CDPs, FRCs or Partnerships to introduce their work and initiatives
in support of migrant workers and their families.
10) Be strategic, ensure that a community development worker is present at meetings,
define opportunities for collectivising experiences, invite people to meet to
reflect on the issues that have been raised in previous meetings and to help
organise a follow-up as appropriate.
11) Migrant workers who work long or untypical hours often cannot access the
CIC, the Library or public services that only operate during ‘office’
hours from Monday to Friday.

Source: A Strategy Guide for Community Development Projects, Family
Resource Centres and Partnerships. The report was published by Pobal and the
NCCRI to support the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism
and also the EU Year of Intercultural Dialogue. The author was Siobhán
Lynam.

MRCI’s 3 TIPS

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland has plenty of experience in running
events for members of ethnic minorities and here, Helen Lowry, shares three tips
to add to our melting pot of knowledge:

Notable international dates offer opportunities to hold events aimed at migrants
in the local community. Some dates include – UN International Day for Migrants
on December 18th, International Women's Day on March 8th, Africa Day on May 25th.

Translation of information and flyers is important to remember and makes
it much easier for migrants to access information.

A great deal of information is spread through word of mouth - identify
potential leaders or those active in their communities and ask them to spread
the word or invite them to get involved in the organisation of the event.

1. Change attitudes with myth-killing workshops

For three years, Mahon CDP has been running equality awareness workshops in
two local schools.

Each year, an asylum-seeker or refugee visits from Nasc, the Irish Immigrant
Support Centre based in Cork. They speak about their personal experiences, how
they came to be in Ireland and what they were fleeing from, and they field questions
from the young people, including queries about the freebies, from cars to prams,
that asylum-seekers are rumoured to receive.

The workshops are successful in dispelling myths and stereotypes young people
believe in. The project has learned that the most prejudiced beliefs held by
locals are aimed less at asylum-seekers and refugees and more towards economic
migrants, most notably Polish people. On foot of this, the organisers added
an equality element to the awareness programme.

“We now get a Cork woman in to talk to the pupils. This woman had to leave
Ireland in the 1980s to find work and lived in England for many years. She talks
about racist comments she received, such as being told, ‘Ye’re only
here to take our jobs – go back home Paddy!’ Then we get in a Polish
woman whose experience in Ireland mirrors that of the Cork woman in England.
This has overturned the stereotypes. The response from the children is incredible,
it’s stopped a lot of the young people in their tracks,” explains
Viv Sadd, Mahon CDP co-ordinator.

"It's stopped a lot of the young people in their tracks" - Viv Sadd, Mahon CDP Co-ordinator

The awareness workshops also include talks by a lesbian and a gay man, Travellers,
people with disabilities, and older people.

It is a CDP initiative in collaboration with Mahon Youth Diversion Project and
builds on earlier work when both organisations brought a group of Mahon youths
on an educational trip to Poland, (following which a DVD was produced).

2. Encourage fellow-immigrants to volunteer locally

Community
Development plays an important role for people in the community, particularly
for those who are disadvantaged. I have been involved in community development
for the past four years with special interest in Irish non-national groups
and single parent families. I served as a board member in the Kiltimagh
CDPand launched several educational and recreational programmes for
the refugee community in County Mayo.

Currently, I am involved with the
Westside
CDP as well as on the Board of Management of the Westside Resource
Centre. My two and a half years with the Project gave me a broad understanding
of the issues that affect people living in the Westside and many people
throughout Ireland. We share many of the same experiences.

For example, I am a single parent raising a small child, struggling to
get an education in order to participate fully in society. It is a challenge,
sometimes it can almost seem overwhelming. I know that I share the same
difficulties with many other single parents. It is still nearly impossible
to find childcare that is affordable, flexible and of a standard that
meets the needs of my child.

I have met many non-Irish nationals who are struggling to integrate into
Irish culture and to learn English to communicate effectively. I encourage
them to get involved with Community Development groups in their local
area. It can help them to build the social networks that are so important
for themselves and their families. It helps them to highlight the issues
that affect their lives and to work together with other people and groups
to bring about change and positive outcomes for everyone in our community.

Sometimes people ask me how I find the time and energy to get involved with
a voluntary committee when I am struggling to get an education and raise my
daughter. I tell them that it is important for me to show other people in situations
like mine that you should never give up hope. Keep fighting for a better life
for you, for your family and for other people in your community.

- Eunice Ofoegbu lives in Galway with her four-year-old daughter.
She is a member of the voluntary management committee of Westside Resource Centre
and is also involved with Westside CDP. She was an activist with Kiltimagh CDP
for four years.

3. Calm worried minds with a knitting group

A very successful 12-week Intercultural Craft Circle is nearing completion
in Kiltimagh
CDP, Co. Mayo. Most of the knitting yarn/wool and needles were donated by
the local community and the participants included women from Nigeria, Ghana,
Uganda, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Bangladesh and Ireland.

The course made a real difference. For instance, one woman, Sibongile Svusvu from Zimbabwe found the knitting therapeutic.
She has a daughter living in Zimbabwe and life is not easy on her. Since she
learned to knit, she now has to knit every evening because it “stops me
from thinking and worrying”.

Lou Brennan taught embroidery and cross stitch techniques for six weeks, then
Mary Dempsey taught knitting for a further six weeks to a mix of women from
the Mayo Railway Hotel (direct provision centre) and the local community.

The women enjoyed both sessions and picked up the sewing and knitting techniques
very quickly.

“It was great to see the interaction between all the women and as the
weeks went by they became more comfortable with each other, joking with each
other and helping each other with the different stitches,” said Mary.

Every week new women joined the Craft Circle after they saw the knit-work that
their friends produced. They made and embroidered cushions and they knit scarves,
lace wraps, dolls, teddies and blankets. None of the women from Kiltimagh’s
direct provision centre did needlework or knitting before but some of them proved
to be naturals with needles.

“A few struggled at the beginning, especially with the knitting, until
they found their rhythm and a comfortable hold. It was very gratifying for the
participants and facilitators, to see confidence grow along with their knitting,”
continued Mary. “The Craft Circle gave them much more than a new skill,
now, instead of just sitting in their rooms they can knit or do some needlework.
And they made friends.”

Everyone made at least one piece in each session, some completed two or three
pieces. To end the Craft Circle, Kiltimagh CDP organised a visit to the Museum
of Country Life in Turlough, Castlebar to view the exhibition of early 20th
century Aran knitwear. The museum arranged an Aran knitting workshop for the
group on the day.

“The women requested that we continue the Craft Circle again in the autumn
and we hope to attract new participants,” added Mary.

.

4. Hold a day for intercultural fun

Sean Ward got involved with Acorn
CDP in Longford town while on placement from the Addiction Studies programme
at Athlone Institute of Technology. He decided to remain on with the project
as a volunteer and here he outlines the project’s importance in County
Longford:

The Acorn CDP is a unique organisation in County Longford and the opportunities
it offers to new communities are vital for the integration of different cultures.
It hosts Acorn United FC, provides computer classes and facilitates free access
to the internet and to computers. The outcome: it enables people to learn new
communication skills.

Classes are also provided in arts, crafts and sewing. One outcome: it enables
people to feel more part of Irish society.

Earlier this year, volunteers gathered to build an Acorn CDP float for the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade.

The project has also provided training in conflict resolution – it organised
training in the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.

The real highlight of the year is Intercultural Family Fun Day which be run
this year on July 19th (2-6pm). It was a tremendous success last year and won
the project a national award.

One key difference between Acorn and other drop-in centres is that Acorn always
has a counsellor to hand, while in other centres you may only get the opportunity
to seek professional help on a weekly basis.

For more information, contact Acorn CDP on 043-48373 or email cdpacorn@eircom.net

5. Network with others and set up a drop-in centre

When the West
Tallaght Resource Centre (WTRC) was established 21 years ago, it chose to
be “a small ‘enabling’ organisation rather than a large ‘managing’
organisation,” says Anna Lee, the project’s first leader.

So what has WTRC done to support asylum-seekers and refugees over the years?
Quite a lot - it is over ten years since the first concrete action was taken:

WTRC’s work in this area coincided with a Tallaght Partnership initiative
to establish the Tallaght Refugee Women’s Group 1997. Both initiatives
converged and became Tallaght Intercultural Action (TIA) in 1998.

TIA is a community development organisation working with refugees, asylum seekers
and migrants. It provides a drop-in facility, support and computer training
for members of new communities. The Drop-in Facility, with the support of the
Bridgine Sisters, and WTRC, is based in St. Maelruan’s Parish Centre.
It provides a meeting place for refugees, asylum seekers and Irish nationals
to get together and participate in multi-cultural activities. Information and
training are also provided.

WTRC was responsible from the beginning for employing TIA’s staff and
administering their budget. This relationship continues today and staff numbers
have grown to five. WTRC is currently working to enable TIA to become self-managing
and independent. The TIA is 10 years old.

“The WTRC was always committed to the growth of local groups, to building
their capacity and supporting their development,” recalled Anna Lee. The
TIA is the proof of the pudding.

For the record, the WTRC started as one of nine projects (out of 150 applicants)
funded under the Second EC Programme to Tackle Poverty (1985-1989). Soon after,
it became part of the Community Development Programme.

6. Call SHEP for a course in ‘Inter-Cultural Awareness’

The Social and
Health Education Project (SHEP) operates in Counties Cork and Kerry. It
supports community groups by providing trained tutors to conduct courses in
social and health education. For many years, intercultural awareness training
has been one of 12 main courses offered by SHEP.

Working in partnership with the Eastern European Association (EEA), SHEP developed
and facilitated a ‘Culture Club’ programme in 2006 which facilitated
45-50 people from abroad and from Ireland to share and reflect on their respective
traditions. The Culture Club programme has continued with ongoing support from
the EEA and now meets regularly in the South Parish Community Centre in Cork.

Meanwhile, in 2007 SHEP developed and delivered 10-week intercultural dialogue
programmes for immigrants. The courses were held in Blackpool, Wilton and Cork
city centre.

“The community development approach adopted in the programmes has left
those involved feeling confident in their own ability to sustain their groups.
Also, through these programmes, SHEP facilitators have gained valuable new experience
of intercultural work and the capacity of the project has grown,” says
Dr. Paul Doherty, Director, the Social and Health Education Project.

The courses lead participants to ask questions about Irish culture as well as
to examine the diverse cultural traditions represented in the immigrant population
itself.

SHEP commenced its work in 1974. As well as community training services, the
project provides counselling, advocacy and organisational development support.

Liam and Workshop prop

For more details of SHEP’s intercultural work, contact Liam McCarthy.
T: 021-4666180 E: socialandhealth@eircom.net. SHEP is based in Village Chambers,
The Village Centre, Station Road, Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Information about
the project, including its International Partnership Programme in Nepal, can
be found on the website: www.socialandhealth.com

7. Nominate people for awards

Reza Mirfattahi is an Iranian asylum-seeker, living in the Old Rectory Hostel,
in New Ross, Co. Wexford. On June 19th, he was one of two Iranians presented with
a World Refugee Day award.

He lists his place on the Voluntary Board of Management of New Ross CDP as his
number one community contribution. There are many others – including his
involvement in the local credit union, civil defence, Community Voice Group,
and RAPID newsletter.

“As an asylum seeker I am facing many limitations as part of the asylum
process,” says Reza. Against the odds, many asylum-seekers manage to integrate
very well, as Reza’s example shows very well.

While denied access to third level (as are all asylum-seekers unless they can
pay the fees), Reza has completed courses through local organisations such as
the County Wexford Partnership. His completion rate is indicative of the choice
that is available to people who can engage with the community: English, suicide-intervention,
lifeguard training, FETAC fitness, health promotion, mental health, swimming
for teachers and child protection.

Mayor of New Ross, Cllr. Ingrid O’Brien, described Reza’s civic
spirit as being “clearly imbued with a keen sense of social justice, decency
and fairness.” She said she was impressed by the way he visited local
schools, discussing the position and difficulties facing by refugees and asylum
seekers in Ireland, and breaking down barriers of ignorance between the different
nationalities in our town.

Another Iranian man, Mojtaba Pouladpour, living in Co. Longford, won a Refugee
Award this year in the Health and Welfare category.

8. Bring people together to quilt

The co-ordinator of Roscommon
Women’s Network CDP has been cursing ‘Changing
Ireland’ for the “huge” reaction her project received
to a report on their intercultural quilting. We reported how the quilting ticked
many boxes in adopting a Community Development approach: collective action,
an anti-poverty aim, partnership, empowerment and sustainability.

“We
barely have time to answer the phone,” said Nora, exaggerating a little.
“While the women were making the quilt, I said we should write up an evaluation,
describing how it worked, and I’m sorry we didn’t now because everyone
who rings asks the same questions.”

The project co-ordinator is part-time, as is the administrator Maria Harris and CE participant Lorraine Campbell and
they have been under pressure to deal with enquiries following press coverage
of the Network’s success with ‘intercultural quilting’. A
novel element was that the Network organised for the quilt to tour the county.

Calls came from around the country, including one on a Friday afternoon from
the PAUL Partnership in Limerick.

“They had me on the phone for an hour, and I was cursing ‘Changing
Ireland’ because I wanted to get home. But really it’s great, I
could talk about the quilt all day.”

Others making enquiries include Dublin City Council, the October 17th committee
and Roscommon County Council.

Nora said that 60% of the 26 quilters who came from many countries had “never
sewed a button before” and they are very proud. The quilt was produced
to raise awareness of October 17th, the UN International Day for the Eradication
of Poverty and was funded by Combat Poverty and the Roscommon County Development
Board.

A local young parents’ groups since went to work to produce a quilt of
their own, but funding was an issue: “We asked Combat Poverty for money
for them but they said they don’t provide funding just like that,”
said Nora. “Six weeks later they got back to us and said they were getting
tired of seeing newspaper clippings landing on their desk about our quilt, so
the board had decided to give us €1000. The young women were over the moon
and they made their own quilt. We call it the ‘sister-quilt’,”
said Nora.

To keep the staff and 14 volunteers in the Roscommon Women’s Network on
their toes, give them a ring. They would love to hear from you. Seriously!

T: 094-962-1690.
E: NFahy@rwn.ie or MHarris@rwn.ie
November ’08 update: The Roscommon CDP quilt has continued on its travels,
showing up most recently at events in Dublin and Brussels.

MIGRANT WORKERS RIGHTS

Key issues facing migrant workers
By Helen Lowry, MRCI

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) is a national organisation concerned
with the rights of migrant workers and their families. Established in 2001 to
bridge a gap in support structures and information provision for migrant workers
and their families, it has since evolved to become a national organisation concerned
with the provision of supports to migrant workers and their families; empowering
migrant workers through community work practice and achieving policy change.

Through the Drop In Centre’s direct support and advocacy work MRCI has identified
some of the key issues facing migrant workers and their families in Ireland. Some
of these include;

• Access to social welfare and social benefits has been restricted for
many categories of migrants as a result of the Habitual Residency Rule which
requires a person to pass a test in order to be deemed to qualify for social
support
• Irregular migration and the situation of undocumented migrant workers
is an area of growing concern. Undocumented migrant workers in Ireland are at
greater risk of work place exploitation, face enormous barriers in accessing key
public services such as health, education and social protection and experience
high levels of fear psychological stress. It is the experience of MRCI that the
majority of undocumented migrant workers they work with came into the country
legally and through reasons beyond their control became undocumented. Such reasons
can include experiences of work place exploitation, employers not renewing work
permits in the past, becoming redundant or simply falling out of the system in
changing jobs.
• Trafficking, both for sex exploitation and forced labour is growing in
Western societies. MRCI is working on the issue of trafficking for forced labour
and has come across cases of workers trafficked for purposes of bonded labour.
In such circumstances it is difficult to get support services in place for the
trafficked persons and currently there is an issue with identification.
• Comprehensive immigration law in the form of the Immigration, Residence
and Protection Bill is in the process of development. Many organisations working
with migrant workers and their families share concerns that this legislation is
very security orientated and does no set out clear rights and entitlements of
immigrants in Ireland along with failing to give an independent appeals process
for immigration decisions made. There are currently many immigration-related concerns
facing migrant workers and their families in Ireland:

Processing times for long term residency and citizenship applications. Following
5 years been legally resident and working, non Irish born nationals are entitled
to apply for long term residency and citizenship. Achieving either means having
freedom to change jobs and also access to more rights and entitlements. It is
currently taking in excess of 17 months to process long term residency applications.
This is causing anxiety and frustrations for many migrant workers, particularly
those who really wish to change jobs

Family reunification is an ongoing concern for many
migrants in Ireland. It is not an automatic right for work permit holders
and is a decision at the discretion of the Minister for Justice Equality
and Law Reform.

• Poor employment conditions and workplace exploitation continues to be
a reality for some migrant workers in Ireland. MRCI’s data reveals that
there is a significant relationship between economic sector and experience of
exploitation. Analysis from the Drop In Centre concludes that it is the sector
of work and not the country of origin which demonstrates the strongest causal
link to exploitation. Approximately one in four workers report workplace exploitation,
with over 60% reporting more than one type of exploitation. Sectors reporting
highest rates of exploitation according to those MRCI has supporting include;
private home, hotel and catering, agriculture and contract cleaning.(SOURCE: MRCI annual report 2006-’07).

Community Programmes’
role to support migrants
- MRCI publication ‘Realising Integration’

Migrant workers live and work in local communities. It is at this interface
that migrant workers experience and interact with people around them, access
services and so on. The role of community leadership is critical to ensuring
that the integration process is successful.

Residents of local communities frequently look to this community leadership
for direction in responding to new and changing situations in their area. Both
CDPs and local development organisations are particularly important to the integration
process.

Area-based parnerships and community groups have a remit to target vulnerable
groups in their area (for example, migrant workers and disadvantaged women).

CDPs, in using a community development approach, have a remit to support the
most disadvantaged residents and groups and to work for their empowerment and
participation.

There is a growing body of work focusing on migrant workers within area-based
partnerships and community groups funded under the Local Development and Social
Inclusion Programme (LDSIP). Also, projects under the Community Development
Programme are incorporating a focus on migrant workers within their work. Plenty
examples of each were published in Issue 26 of ‘Changing Ireland’.

IMMIGRANT STATS

Most foreigners here are British

A report released on June 30th by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows
that most Non-Irish Nationals (NINs) living in Ireland in April 2006 were from
Britain. The ten largest ethnic minority groups in Ireland are from:

Britain (112,548)

Poland (63,276 resident + 10,126 Polish visitors on census night).

Lithuania (24,628 + 1,168 visitors)

Nigeria (16,300)

Latvia (13,319)

USA (12,475)

China (11,161)

Germany (10,289)

Philippines (9,548)

French nationals (9,046)

If you feel the statistics are not reflected in your area, you may be right.
For instance, two-thirds of all Chinese people resident in Ireland live in the
greater Dublin area (the city and its suburbs). By comparison, four of every
five Latvians lives outside the Pale.

A TIP!

The CSO report includes revealing profiles of the 10 largest non-Irish groups
which should help to guide policy-makers at local as well as national level.
The profiles show where in Ireland people from the ten largest ethnic groups
live, who they tend to live with, what kind of work they do, their marital
status, their religious beliefs or lack of, their economic status, and so
on. Log onto www.cso.ie, wait a few seconds, then click on ‘Census
2006’.

On Census Day, April 23rd 2006 . . .

• 420,000 non-Irish people were resident in the State, coming from 188
different countries.
• There were 44 countries - from Anguilla to Western Sahara - represented
by fewer than 10 people.
• Some 17 per cent of Lithuanians aged from five to 19 could speak Irish.
• Over half of the Nigerian people in Dublin lived in Fingal. By comparison,
on the city’s Southside, only 1% of Nigerians in Ireland lived in Dún
Laoghaire-Rathdown.
• Non-Irish groups are dominated by people in their 20s and 30s, with
significantly more men than women. There were few children and older people
among them.
• 80% of Chinese said they had "no religion", by far the highest
per cent of any group, while 6 per cent said Buddhist and 1 in 20 indicated
Catholic.
• People from countries outside Europe had higher overall educational
attainment than Irish people in the same age brackets.
• While Nigerians were heavily urbanised, British nationals lived mainly
in rural areas, Polish people were largely here to work, and most Chinese
were here to study. Such distinctions are significant for policy-making.